The Maine Department of Corrections has taken the unusual step of restricting operations at the Piscataquis County Jail in Dover Foxcroft because of a substantial "concern for the health and safety of staff, inmates and visitors."
The action to restrict operations follows a biennial inspection on July 21 and 22 that the MDOC says revealed non-compliance with 11 mandatory standards and one essential standard. The failures include discrepancies in medical records, improper medication and sharps management and not following infectious disease protocols. In addition, MDOC says it was unable to review 61 other standards because of a lack of documentation.
According to the statement, the failures include "discrepancies in medical records, improper medication and sharps management, and not following infectious disease protocols."
As a result, the jail is prohibited from taking in new prisoners and must return prisoners who are boarded by federal contract to their original facilities. According to Piscataquis County Jail Administrator Jean Larson, the jail has a capacity of 36 prisoners and a current population of 30. She says 12 of those are boarders who will be transferred.
The jail administrator and Piscataquis County Sheriff Robert Young have been given until Friday at 3 p.m. to create a plan of corrective action. If they fail to submit a plan to ensure the health and safety of staff, inmates and visitors, a notice to the jail indicates that Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty will revoke the facility's operating license and establish a process to transfer the jail's remaining population.
Calls to the sheriff were not immediately returned. And Jail Administrator Jean Larson directed further questions to the Maine Department of Corrections.
